Category Archives: Special Section
January 2022
LIMB PRESERVATION AT STUDENT-LED FREE CLINIC
Uninsured patients with diabetes are at high risk for amputations. This case series illustrates that the medical and specialty services provided by a free interprofessional student clinic were of a vital necessity in healing diabetic foot ulcers and preventing amputations in… Continue reading
January 2022
ALPS Seeks Student Chapter Members
The American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS) serves as an interdisciplinary bridge between varied groups and organizations with respective roles to play in lower limb preservation. As part of its collective goal to eliminate… Continue reading
January 2022
IMPACT OF FRAILTY ON WOUND HEALING
Few studies suggested that frailty may increase inflammation, which in turn may negatively impact tissue repair in people with significant tissue loss. This study aims to shed light on potential impact of frailty on outcomes of skin-substitute placement in patients with… Continue reading
January 2022
DPN FOUND IN 4/5 PATIENTS IN SAUDI STUDY
A descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of all diabetic patients who attend the specialist diabetes and endocrine center in Prince Mansour Military Hospital in Taif, Saudi Arabia. A monofilament test was used to… Continue reading
January 2022
PREDICTING HEALING OF DFUS WITH MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING
Guidelines recommend adjunctive therapies for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) without >50% wound area reduction after 4 weeks of standard care. This delays advanced care in nearly 50% of DFUs. We sought to evaluate the ability of a multispectral imaging to predict DFU… Continue reading
January 2022
E-STIM FOR PREVENTION OF ICU-ACQUIRED WEAKNESS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS
Prolonged immobilization may inevitably lead to complications such as muscle dysfunction and consequently, intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) among critically ill COVID-19 patients. This pilot-study examined the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of… Continue reading
March 2022
lerEXPO Conversations Patient Engagement Vital to Diabetes Prevention
The American Diabetes Association estimates that 34.2 million people—10.5% percent of the U.S. population—have diabetes. And today, like every other day in America, 4,110 people will be diagnosed with diabetes (most will be Type 2) and, sadly, 356 will undergo an amputation. Worldwide, it’s over 500 million people.
By Keith Loria Continue reading
February 2022
National Biomechanics Day Is April 6, 2022
Community engagement, the collaboration between university and community groups, strengthens the connections and the cooperation between these groups. It enables university faculty and students to enhance the quality of life in the community by bringing their knowledge and skills to…
By Paul DeVita, PhD, and Friends Continue reading
November 2021
INTENSITY OF BALANCE CHALLENGE DURING VIDEOGAMING
Poor balance and falls remain a large concern for older adults and individuals with physical disability. Clinicians use adapted commercial video gaming as one intervention technique to address balance impairments. However, a lack of standardized balance intensity measures…
By Amanda Laxganger, Debbie Espy, and Ann Reinthal Continue reading
November 2021
QUANTIFYING BALANCE THROUGH STEP LENGTH AND SINGLE-LEG STANCE
Quantifying and defining criteria for balance proficiency for a specific balance task is an important factor when improving one’s balance. Motion-based games are selected to emphasize 5 distinct balance tasks as a method of improving balance and reducing fall risk in individuals’ post-stroke.
By Zachary Hubbard, Debbie Espy, and Ann Reinthal Continue reading
November 2021
THE VIABILITY OF IN-SHOE INSOLES TO MEASURE PRESSURE AND SHEAR IN PATIENTS WITH CHARCOT ARTHROPATHY
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that occurs as a complication of diabetes mellitus and disrupts the sensory, autonomic, and motor systems. Clinical symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can include muscle weakness, numbness, lack of coordination, and pain. Charcot arthropathy can develop when an injury occurs in a patient with peripheral neuropathy.
By Jessi Martin, Brian Davis, Grant McMillan, and Larry Goss Continue reading
November 2021
THE IMPACT BALANCE TRAINING HAS ON KINEMATIC MEASUREMENTS POST STROKE
Stroke is a neurological disease that causes disability in adults and increases the risk of falling. The integration of technology and rehabilitation strategies are systematically used in physical therapy to target muscle activity in post-stroke patients. This addresses initial muscle weakness of the affected side of the body, as well as asymmetrical postural behavior.
By Abigail Tolstyka, Sydney Bajusz, Ann Reinthal, and Deborah Espy Continue reading
October 2021
Risk of Prolonged Opioid Use in Older Patients After Hip Fracture Surgery
There is a notable risk of prolonged opioid use in older patient populations following musculoskeletal injury according to a new study presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. While numerous studies have analyzed opioid dependence in younger patient cohorts, relatively few… Continue reading
October 2021
Opioids Overprescribed to Children, Adolescents for Common Orthopaedic Procedures
While pain control is an important component of orthopaedic surgery postoperative care, the practice of overprescribing opioid medications has become a contributing factor to the misuse of narcotics in the United States. A new study presented at the 2021 AAOS Annual Meeting analyzed opioid prescribing behaviors… Continue reading
October 2021
Effects of COVID-19 on Youth Athletes Differs by Sport, Age
When single sport youth athletes have their routine disrupted, as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, they may be at greater risk for depression, demonstrating the need for increased education and research in mental health for adolescent athletes. The results of a new survey, “Sidelined due to COVID-19… Continue reading
August 2021
Study Reports Injury Rates Across High School and College Sports
In an analysis of more than 26,000 injuries across high school and college sports, the sports with the most injuries were male football (25.6%), female basketball (8.5%), female soccer (8.1%), male basketball (7.1%), and female volleyball (6.5%). However, even though gymnastics and lacrosse accounted for fewer injuries, those injuries were typically associated with a… Continue reading
August 2021
MIDDLE SCHOOL CONCUSSION RATES HIGHER THAN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE
New research presented at the National Athletic Trainers’ Associations’ 2021 NATA Virtual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, held virtually this year due to COVID-19, found that middle school sports have an overall higher rate of concussion than reported in high school and collegiate settings. The research also concluded that middle school athletes playing… Continue reading
August 2021
Middle School Wrestling Injury Rate Higher Than Previous Reports
Another study from the ACHIEVES project reported at the National Athletic Trainers’ Associations’ 2021 NATA Virtual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo described the epidemiology of injuries sustained by middle school age wrestlers in a large metropolitan school division as limited data about wrestling existed at the middle school level. Continue reading
November 2020
Hematoma Algorithm May Improve Outcomes
Researchers at the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine observed a specific subset of patients was frequently coming to their clinic with complications after mismanagement or misdiagnosis of initial blunt trauma soft tissue injuries to the lower extremity. Continue reading
November 2020
Measuring Topical Oxygen Therapy Result with NIRS
Chronic wounds are defined as those not proceeding through the orderly phase of tissue repair with 30 days; incidence of these wounds continue to rise, creating a burden not only on patients, but the healthcare system as well. Continue reading
November 2020
Gellable Fiber Dressing in Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers
This investigational product case series looked the use of gellable fiber dressing technology in the setting of heavily exudating venous leg wounds in a series of 5 patients. Exudate management is key to healing this type of ulcer. Continue reading
August 2020
Collegiate Twirlers Suffer High Rates of Lower Extremity Injuries
Baton twirling, which has been around in some form since military groups first twirled torches and rifles, is evolving into a highly competitive sport, drawing ever larger numbers of youth athletes. Today’s twirling is a unique performance-based sport that emphasizes strength, athleticism, and artistry. It requires fine coordination of fingers, hands, arms, feet, and legs, as well as extraordinary control of the back, stomach, and torso—all so the twirler can control the baton. Continue reading
August 2020
Dance-related Injuries on the Rise
Dancing can be a beautiful work of art, a great form of exercise, or a fun leisure activity. But increasingly, it is also the cause of injuries requiring an emergency room visit. Such visits rose by 22.5% from 2014 to 2018, according to new research presented at the 2020 NATA Virtual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo held July 2020. Nearly half of the patients reported to the emergency department with a sprain or… Continue reading
August 2020
Movement Control Differs with Age in Children
Movement control, the ability to control one’s own movements, is required for the development of motor skills and motor skills (also known as “physical literacy”) are critical for normative development. Movement skills help children improve their strength, posture, balance, and sleep, and play in role in developing confidence. Age-appropriate movement control may play a factor in lower extremity injuries which are known to… Continue reading
August 2020
Sport Specialization Ups Fracture Risk for Female Military Cadets
Early sports specialization appears to take an even greater toll on young females than previously thought. Research presented at the recent 2020 NATA Virtual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo suggests that prior sports specialization is associated with an increased risk of a lower extremity stress fracture in female U.S. Service Academy cadets, but not males during their first year of service. Continue reading
